FREE FAMILY EVENT: Catalyst Takeover at the Danny Steam Tugboat August 1st

The education and heritage teams from the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes are staging a takeover of The Danny this summer. Young scientists, mini-mariners and history detectives are invited to try out exciting activities and handle historic objects on board our historic Art Deco steamboat at Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge. Children will explore scientific ideas around our environment through hands on activities:

• Biodiversity through nature challenges
• Newspaper Plant pots
• Homemade air monitors

They will also have the opportunity to explore the Danny, and to explore links between the Danny, the Weaver and the chemical industries that were so important for employment in the area, through an object handling session of objects selected by the Catalyst heritage team.

The Danny Art Deco steam tugboat has operated in the region since 1903, towing river barges, then great cargo vessels, and then focusing on important passengers. We had King Fuad of Egypt, King Faisal of Iraq, the Sultan of Zanzibar and many more on board, which is why we ended up getting our beautiful Art Deco saloons. After the ship fell into disrepair, she was saved from the scrapyard by local volunteers who succeeded in restoring her as a heritage, tourism and learning resource for the community and the nation.